Drier and method of drying



Feb. 13, 1945. 1 M ONElLL 2,369,366

DRIER AND METHOD OF DRYING Fi1ediFeb. 11, 1941 3 sheets-sheet 1 @MLWMM L. M. ONEILL DRIER AND METHOD 0F DRYING sheets-sheet 2 Filed Feb. ll 1941 faQ/Onze s. l

Feb. 13, 1945.

Feb. 13, 1945. L. M. oNr-:ILL

DRIER AND METHOD OF DRYING Filed Feb. 1l, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Fel. 13, 1945l UNITED A STATES PATENT OFFICE DRIER AND METHOD F DRYING Leo M. ONelll, Evanston, Ill. Application February 11, 1941, Serial No. 378,461

16 Claims.

The invention relates generally to `driers and more particularly to a device for drying wet fabrics such as laundry. l l

The general object of the invention is to provide a novel drier for fabric material such as laundry, which is economical to operate, which is suitable for use in a home, and which does not require any high degree of skill to operate.

It is also a prominent object to provide a novel drier which does not materially change the temperature or humidity conditions in the room in which it operates, and which prevents the dissipation into the room of any lint from the articles being dried.

` Another object is to provide a novel drier for drying articles of laundry in a relatively short space of time either to a slightly damp condition for ironing or to a bone-dry condition.

A further object is to provide a novel drier in which the laundry is'held in a sterilizing atmosphere during substantially the entire drying period. s

Still another object is to provide a novel laundry drier in which the lint is carried out of the drying chamber and consequently away from the articles being dried, and is prevented from being returned to the chamber so that the articles when ultimately dried are free of lint.

Other objects and advantages will become apf parent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in

which: l

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a drier embodying the features of the invention.

Fig.2 is a vertical sectional view taken onthe plane parallel to the front of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 isa perspective view of a part of the drier. l

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the drier provided with' an air cooling means.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of drier.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to Fig. 2`, but of the drier shown in Fig. '7,

Fig. 9 isa perspective view of a part of the drier shown in Fig. 7.

A drier embodying the features of the invention is in its preferred form designed for use in drying laundry, and is particularly constructed view , and has such capacity that it is adapted for use in a home. In many homes. washing machines are employed for doing the household laundry,

process, and the laundry during such drying will accumulate dust from the air.

The present drier is constructed so that the laundry may be placed therein immediately following the wringing or centrifugal drying operation, and in this drier the moisture content of the laundry may be removed in a relatively short space of time either to the point where the laundry is only slightly damp bui-l ready for ironing,

or to Where it is substantially bone dry. Moreover, during the drying operation, not only is dust prevented from gaining access to the laundry, but also the laundry is sterilized due to the heat to which it is subjected for a substantial period of time. Furthermore, the laundry is in a fluffy relatively non-wrinkled condition when it is removed from the drier, thus facilitating ironing, or, in some instances, avoiding the necessity of ironing.

The drier in its preferred embodiment comprises generally a chamber in which the laundry y is placed. The chamber is provided with an outlet in its bottom but is otherwise substantially closed. While the laundry is in the chamber, it is agitated and heat is applied directly thereto. preferably in the form of radiant heat as distinguished from passing a current of preheated air through the chamber, so that the laundry is not exposed'to the dust in the air andthe heat is efficiently utilized. During the operation of the machine, the moisture content of the laundry is vaporized and passes out of the chamber under its own pressure through the outlet in the bottom.

In order to prevent discharging the, vapor into the room in which the machine is operating, a condenser is provided which is in communication with the chamber outlet and causes the vapor as it emerges from the chamber to be condensed and retained within the condenser. A further prominent feature of the invention resides in the fact that with the outlet in the bottom of the chamber, me unt which is formed b'y the agitation of the Ylaundry within the.' chamber, falls through the opening and into the condenser by gravity and because of the falling of the laundry in the chamber and of the rotary movementof the drum.

Such lint is relatively light in character and tends to iloat in the atmosphere within the chamber. However, when it passes through the opening into the condenser it becomes thoroughly moistened by the condensed moisture and falls to the bottom of the condenser where it is retained due to its soggy condition,

In a machine of this constructionfthe only heat lost from the chamber is that which is carried out by the vapor and lint. Such heat is much less in quantity than would be carried out of the drying chamber were the latter heated by a current of preheated air. In order to maintain the condenser at a relatively cool temperature so as 'to operate efciently, the heat carried thereto is dissipated through the walls of the condenser. Such heat is preferably carried out of the machine by providing an air current in the path of which the condenser is located. By means of this air current, the condenser is maintained at an eilicient operating temperature so that the vapor entering the condenserl from the chamber is lmmediately condensed. However, none of this vapor enters the room in which the machine is operated, nor can the lint escape from the machine. Moreover; the machine as a whole is not dependent for its rate of drying upon the hu midity condition of the outside air.

As shown in the drawings, the' machine comprises a base I6 of generally rectangular form constituting a part of a general base structure which also includes upwardly extending walls II. Mounted on the base structure is a chamber of generally cylindrical form having a horizontal axis extending from front to rear of the ma; chine. The chamber is preferably constructed with an inner wall I2 and an outer wall I3 spaced from each other, and insulation I I is placed in the space therebetween. The front and rear walls of the chamber are similarly constructed and insulated. At the bottom of the chamber the peripheral wall is provided with an opening or outlet I (see Fig. 2). Preferably this outletextends from front to rear of the machine and has a length substantially equal to the front to rear dimension of the chamber. The chamber is otherwise closed, the seams between the front and rear Walls and the peripheral wall being substantially air tight.

Mounted within the chamber is a means for tumbling or agitating the laundry during the course of drying. Such means preferably/ comprises a rotatable drum or basket 20 of generally cylindrical form located concentrically with the chamber. The front and rear walls as well as the peripheral wall of the drum 20 are made of foraminous material such as perforated sheet metal, and the drum is provided with a stiiiening spider 2| on its rear wall, the spider being provided with a hub rigid with a drive shaft 22 projecting rearwardly from the chamber. To prevent the clothes from being caught onthe hub or shaft 22, a guard or cover 23 may be mounted over the inwardly projecting end thereof. 'I'he drum 20 is adapted to receive the laundry and to agitate it during the course of drying. To this end, a plurality of vanes or ledges 24 are provided on the inner side. of the peripheral wall of the drum to extend radially inward. Thus when laundry is placed in the drum and the latter is rotated, the laundry will be lifted up by the ledges 24 and permitted to fall toward the bottom of the drum, thereby spreading out and exposing all parts of the laundry.

To supply heat to the interior of the chamber and thereby produce vaporization of the moisture a part of the moisture as it emerges from the' aaeaacs content of the laundry, heatingmeans is provided. Buch heating means is of a type to supply heat directly to the contents ofthe chamber as distinguished from supplying preheated air to the interior thereof. Thus in the preferred embodiment of the invention, an electrical heating element is provided which comprises a plurality of rods 25 for radiating heat directly on the laundry as it is tumbled and agitated within the chamber. In the embodiment shown herein, the heating rods 2l are bent into a generally arcuate form and are located in the upper part of the chamber in a space between the peripheral wall of the drum and the wall of the chamber. These rods are so constructed and their heating capacity so calculated that suillcient heat is provided without causing any great intensity of temperature at the rods. In practice, it has been found that a temperature at the surface of the rods of 700 to 800 F. is suitable. With this temperature, scorching of the laundry is avoided and the production of lint is held to a minimum.

To provide for insertion of laundry 'within the drum and removal thereof, the front wall of the drum is provided with an opening 26 located centrally of the drum and in alinement with an opening 2l in the front wall of the chamber. A cover 28 for the opening 21 is mounted on the front wall of the chamber and preferably is of sufficient depth to extend into and substantially close the opening 26 in the drum to prevent the laundry as it is tumbled in the drum from falling through the opening structed that when closed it provides a substantially air tight seal for the opening 21.

The laundry is inserted through the opening in the front of the machine and is tumbled by means of the drum and its ledges 24 in the presence of the heat radiated directly on the laundry from the heating element 25. The moisture content of the laundry is thus rapidly converted into vapor which would have a tendency to build up a pressure within the chamber were it not for the opening or outlet I5. Thus as the vapor is generated within the chamber it produces a flow. under its own pressure, out of the chamber through the outlet I5. Moreover, only the heat in the vapor escapes from the chamber, resulting in efficient operation ofthe machine.

In many driers heretofore constructed, the vaporized moisture content of the laundry is carried directly into the room in whichthe machine operates. It is obvious that such vapor might cause a considerable rise in the humidity of the room, particularly where the machine is operated in a home where the room may be small. Moreover, the tumbling of the laundry Within the chamber produces a certain amount of lint. It is obviously undesirable to permit such lint to remain within the chamber because of the fact that it would be deposited on the laundry, and also because it might catch fire from contact within the heating element 25. Moreover, it is equally undesirable to permit such lint to be discharged into the room in winch the machine operates.

A prominent feature of the invention resides the provision of means for condensing at least chamber so that it is not carried into the air of the room, and also to collect the lint as it falls through the opening I5. To this end I have provided a means for simultaneously condensing at least some of the vapor and efficiently collecting the lint as they emerge from the chamber. Thus 26. The cover 26 is so con- I have provided -a receptacle which is substantially closed except that the interior thereof is in communication with the outlet I so that both the vapor and the lint when they are discharged from the cham-ber enter the receptacle. Such receptacle is constructed to serve as a condenser for the vapor, thus reducing it to water which thoroughly moistens the lint, thereby preventing the reentry of both the lint and vapor into the chamber and at the same time producing no back pressure which would interfere with the drying operation taking place within the chamber, or which would decrease the discharge of vapor from the chamber.

In the preferred embodiment shown in Figs. 1

to 5, the receptacle or condenser is in the form of a drawer, indicated generally at 30, located in the base structure of the machine and supported so that it may be readily removed to empty any accumulation of water and lint. Thus the drawer comprises a bottom wall 3i, side walls 32, a rear wall 33, and a front wall 34. The drawer is preferably wider than the outlet I5 from the chamber and is provided with a top wall 35 over that part of the drawer which extends laterally beyond the outlet i5. The drawer is preferably suspended in the base structure of the machine -by having its left-hand side wall 32 flanged, as at 36, and its top wall 35 flanged along its edge, as at 31, to hang on flanges 38 formed on the peripheral wall of the chamber along the side edges of the outlet i5. The rear wall 33 of the drawer is adapted to abut the rear wall of the base structure, while the front wall 34 is `adapted to abut against the front face of the front wall of the base structure, thus making a substantially air tight connection except'for the communication between the interior of the drawer and the outlet l5.

As mentioned above, the machine in the present instance also includes means for cooling the drawer 3l), which means produces a current of air in the path of which the drawer is located. Thus at one side of the base structure there is mounted a motor 40 supported on the base l0, and mounted on the rear end of the motor shaft is a fan 4i for drawing air into the base structure through a screened opening 42 located in the rear wall. Extending from front to rear within the base structure is a plenum chamber formed by a wall 43 extending upwardly over the motor `and thence at an angle downwardly so that its lower right-hand edge, as viewed in Fig. 2, is located adjacent the bottom wall 30 of the drawer but spaced above the base i0. Thus an elongated slot-like opening 44 is provided for the plenum chamber, extending from front to rear of the machine under the drawer, so that the air forced into the plenum chamber by the fan will be discharged through the slot 44 transversely under the drawer. At the opposite side of the machine, the side wall of the base structure is provided with a slot 45 for the discharge of the air flowing` under the drawer. To assist in cooling the drawer and to increase the rate of dissipation of heat therefrom, a` plurality of fins 46 may be mounted on the bottom of the drawer to extend is mounted another small pulley I3 connected by a belt 54 .to a pulley 5B mounted lon the rear end of the drum supporting shaft 22. A. casing 33 is preferably provided at the back of the machine to cover the pulleys I3 and il and the belt y5.4. The' speed of rotation of the drum is such that the laundry will be carried upwardly by the ledges 24 and will slide therefrom before it reaches the top of the chamber so that it will spread out to expose all parts thereof to the heat from the heating element 25 in the hottest zone within the sion, a small opening or vent 60 is provided in the top wall of the drawer so that the air may escape therefrom. I'he vent 30, however, is not of suiilcient size nor is it located closely enough to the outlet I5 to permit any appreciable amount of vapor to escape before vbeing condensed.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a means for insuring sufficient cooling of the drawer 30 to condense the vapor therein. Thus at the rear of the ma chine adjacent the screened intake 42for the air, Y

I have mounted a cooling device, indicated at 6i, through which the air taken in by the fan has to pass. This cooling device preferably comprises a pair of headers 62 connected by pipes or coils 63 to carry a cooling uid such as a refrigerant, or merely cool Water. The lower header is provided with a connection 64 to receive the cool iiuid, while the upper head is provided with a in the direction of air iiow. As shown in the drawings, these fins are perforated.

Preferably the motor which operates the fan also is utilized for driving the drum 20. To this end a small pulley 50 may be mounted on the motor shaft and connected by a belt to a larger pulley 5i mounted on astub shaft 52 located centrally of the machine in the lower rear part thereof. On the rear end of the stub shaft 52 discharge 65 for carrying away the cooling fluid.

In the modified form of the drier shown in Figs. '7, 8, and 9, the construction of the receptacle or drawer, as indicated at 10, is such that vapor may escape therefrom. However, at least part of the vapor emerging from the chamber into the drawer 1U is condensed to moisten the vlint and prevent such lint either from being returned from the drying chamber or from passing out of the machine. To this end, the drawer 10 is spaced from the base structure Ill of the machine so that a current of air may be passed thereunder to cool the drawer. However, one vertical wall of the drawer,.in the present instance the right-hand wall, is providedwith an open structure through which the vapor may pass. Thus the upper part of the right-hand wall of the drawer 10 is made of a wire mesh 1I. 'I'he lower portion of the right-hand wall, indicated at 12, is solid so that sucient moisture may collect in the drawer to thoroughly moisten the lint.

The air current passing under the drawer is permitted to pass out of the base structure through a slot 13 in the lower right-hand side thereof. The Vapor is also permitted to escape from the base structure after leaving the drawer. While such escape for the vapor may be placed at any convenient location, in the present instance the drawer 10 is extended to the righthand side of the base structure so that the wire mesh portion 1l of the drawer coincides with an opening 14 in the side wall of the base structure above the opening 13. Thus the vapor passing out of the drying chamber and into the drawer portion and thence out of the machine through the opening ll. However, during Vthe passage of the vapor through the drawer at least a portion thereof is condensed by the cooling eiect oi' the drawer itself and the air current thereunder. The lint is thereby prevented from escaping from the drawer due to the wire mesh, and is thoroughly moistened by the condensed water and is retained in the bottom oi the drawer. While the drawer may be withdrawn either to the side or the front of the machine, I have herein shown it withdrawable forwardly, the drawer being supported on suitable bars 16.

In operation, the cover or door 28 is opened and the laundry as it comes from the wringer or centrifugal drier is placed in the drum 2i). The door 28 is then closed so that the chamber remains substantially air tight. The motor drive is then started and at the same time the heating element 25 is energized. The rotation of the drum causes the laundry to be tumbled by being lifted up on the ledges 24 and allowed to fall and spread out within the chamber to present all areas of the laundry to the eilect of the heat.

Thus the moisture content of the laundry is vaporized. 'I'he air initially in the chamber is permitted to escape through the outlet i5 and through the drawer 30 to the vent 60 to avoid any back pressure. The vapor as it is generated would tend to build up a pressure withinv the chamber, were it not that it may freely pass through the outlet i5 into the drawer 30. The drawer 30, being maintained at a relatively low temperature by the current of cool air from the fan, causes condensation of the vapor, and the resultant water is collected in the bottom of the drawer. At the same time the lint produced through the tumbling of the laundry will fall through the outlet i5 into the drawer 30. The lint is thoroughly moistened by the condensed vapor and falls to the bottom of the drawer so that it will not reenter the chamber.

The fan provides suillcient current of air under the drawer and around the ns 56 to maintain the drawer at a condensing temperature. However, if the temperature of the outside air is too high to maintain suiiicient cooling of the drawer, the air may be pre-cooled by means of the cooling device 6| illustrated in Fig, 6. The air owing under the drawer 30 and discharged through the slot 45is not ,humidified in any respect so that it will not change the moisture condition of the room in which the machine is operated. Moreover, the lint is prevented from being dissipated therein.

In the operation of the drier shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9, the generation of vapor within the chamber takes place in a similar manner to that in the form shown in Fig. 1, and such generated vapor is forced out through the outlet I5 and into the drawer 10. The vapor thereupon flows through the drawer and its wire mesh portion ll to escapefrom the machine through the side wall openmg 14. However. during such tlow of the vapor, the lint carried along therewith is prevented by the screen from passing out of the drawer, and enough vapor is condensed by the cooling of the bottom surface of the drawer to thoroughly moisten the lint and retain it in the bottom 'of the drawer in a soggy condition.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have provided a novel drier for material such as laundry, which is economical to operate and to cool the latter and is particularly suitable for use in a home.. The drier is so constructed that no great increase in temperature or humidity is occasioned in the room in which it operates. and also any lint created during the drying operation is collected and thereby prevented irom being dissipated throughout the room. The machine 'is capable ot drying laundry in a much shorter space of time than it may be dried by hanging on a line, and during the course of the drying the laundry is prevented from collecting dust from the air and is also maintained in a sterilizedv atmosphere within the drier so that when the drying is completed the laundry may be taken out in a clean sterilized condition.

I claim as my invention:

1. A laundry drier comprising. in combination, a chamber having an outlet at its bottom but otherwise closed, means for agitating the laundry within said chamber, means for directly heating the laundry, a receptacle located under the chamber'with its interior in communication with the chamber but otherwise closed, said receptacle being arranged to receive vapor emerging from the chamber and `to receive lint falling by gravity from the chamber, and means for maintaining said receptacle at a relatively cool temperature whereby the vapor entering therein will be condensed and the lint will be moistened to prevent further agitation thereof.

2. A laundry drier comprising, in combination, a chamber to receive the laundry having an opening in the bottom but otherwise substantially closed, means for agitating the laundry within the chamber, heating means within the chamber, a combined condenser and lint catcher in communication with the chamber by said opening and located at the bottom thereof in which lint from the chamber will be gathered and into which vapor generated within the chamber will flow,

`and means for producing an air current in the path of which said combined condenser and lint catcher is located whereby at least some of the vapor is condensed and the lint is moistened to retain both the moisture and the lint therein.

3. The combination with a laundry drier of the type comprising a chamber closed except for a bottom outlet, in which the laundry is heated and agitated and from which the vapor generated emerges under its own pressure, of a combined condenser and lint catcher connected to said outlet to receive the vapor and lint emerging therethrough, and means for producing an air current at the exterior of said condenser and lint catcher thereby condense at least part of the vapor and meisten the lint to prevent agitation and return to the chamber.

4. A laundry drier comprising, in combination, a chamber having a. bottom outlet but otherwise substantially closed, means for heating the interior of said chamber to vaporize the moisture from the laundry, means for agitating laundry within the chamber, a drawer for collecting moisture and lint underlying said outlet and having its interior in 'communication with the interior .of the chamber but closed to the outside, and

means for maintaining said drawer at a relatively L cool temperature to eiect condensation of said moisture therein.

5. A laundry drier comprising, a generally cylindrical chamber having a horizontal axis extending from front to rear, said chamber having an opening in its bottom but otherwise substantially closed,

in combination,Y

heating means i Y aseasee within the chamber, rotating means within the chamber for agitating the laundry, a base structure supporting said chamber, a drawer slidably mounted in said base structure under said opening with its interiorvin communication with the interior of the chamber but otherwise substantially closed, and means in said base structure for creating -a current of an' under said drawer to cool the latter and thereby condense the vapor `from the chamber and moisten the lint accumulated within the drawer.

6. A laundry drier comprising, in combination,

a chamber to receive the laundry and having an Y opening in its bottom but otherwise substantially closed,'means for heating the laundry within the chamber and located Within said chamber, means for agitating the laundry within the chamber, supporting means surrounding said opening, a drawer suspended from said supporting means and in substantially air tight relationship therewith whereby all the vapor and lint emerging from Y in said base structure under said opening to re-q ceive the vapor and lint emerging from the chamber, and means located at one side in said base for causing a current of air to flow through said base structure and under said drawer to cool the latter.

8. -A laundry drier comprising, in combination, a chamber having a bottom outlet but otherwise substantially closed, heating means within the chamber, agitating means within t e chamber, a base structure under said chamber, a receptacle in said base structure under said outlet with its interior in communication therewith, and means located at one side of said base structure for drawing in air and discharging it laterally under said receptacle to cool the latter. Y

9; A laundry drier comprising, in combination, a generally cylindrical chamber substantially closed except for an opening in its bottom wall substantially equal in length to the length of the chamber, means for heating the interior of the chamber, means for agitating laundry within the chamber, a base structure supporting said cham-l ber, a drawer suspended in said base structure under said opening and withdrawable forwardly from said base structure, a fan located at one side o! said base structure and drawing air inwardly from the 4baci: thereof and discharging it laterallyunder the drawer to cool the bottom thereof.

10. A laundry drier comprising, in combination, a generally cylindrical chamber mounted on a horizontal axis and being substantially closed except for an opening extending from front to rear thereof at its bottom, means for heating the oontents of the chamber, means for agitating laundry within the chamber, a generally rectangular drawer located under the chamber, the drawer having a closed top except for an open portion underlying said opening whereby the vapor and lint from the chamber will pass into said drawer, means for cooling the drawer, and a relatively small vent in the closed portion of the topof the drawer located externally ci the chamber to relieve any pressure built up within the chamber.

11. The method of drying laundry ina chamber which is closed except for an opening at the bottom thereof adjacent a receptacle comprising supplying heat to the interior of the'chamber to generate vapor from the moisture content of the laundryand thereby forcing the vapor out of the chamber under its opening in the bottom of the chamber and into said receptacle, agitating the laundry in the chamber, collecting in said receptacle the lint falling from said chamber through said opening, cooling the receptacle and condensing therein at least a part of the vapor in the receptacle and thereby moistening the lint collected therein to prevent its reentry into the chamber.

12. The method of drying laundry which oomprises placing the wet laundry in a chamberhaving an opening in its bottom but otherwise substantially closed, agitating the laundry in the.

munication with said opening and condensing at Y leastv a part of it in the receptacle, cooling the receptacle to improve the condensation therein, and moistening by means of the condensate the lint falling from said chamber into said receptacle to prevent its reentry into the chamber.

13. The method of drying laundry which'comprises placing the wet laundry in a chamber provided with a bottom opening but otherwise substantiallyv closed, supplying heat tothe interior oi' the chamber, agitating the laundry during the course of drying, vcollecting the vaporina receptacle as it emerges through said opening, collecting and moistening lint within said receptacle as it passes out of the chamber through said opening, and passing a current of air across the exterior of said receptacle to cool it.`

14. The method of drying laundry which comprises placing the wetlaundry in a lchamber provided with a bottom opening, supplying heat to the interior of the chamber, agitating the laundry during the course of drying, collecting and retaining the vapor from the chamber in a receptacle asA it emerges through said opening, continuously cooling the receptacle to condense at least part of the vapor in said receptacle throughout .the course of drying, and moistening the lint emerging from said opening by the condensed moisture.

15.` A laundry drier comprising, in combination, a chamber to receive thelaundry, heating means for the chamber, means for agitating the laundry within the chamber, said chamber being provided with a bottom outlet but otherwise substantially closed, a receptacle underlying said outlet to receive vapor and lint emerging from the chamber through\said outlet, said receptacle being provided with an opening for exhaust of part of the vapor, and me s for cooling said receptacle to condense a part of the vapor, thereby moistening the lint and retaining it within the receptacle.

16. A laundry drier comprising, in combination, a chamber having a bottom outlet but otherwise substantially closed, means for heating the interior of said chamber, means for agitating laundry within the chamber, a drawer underlying said outlet and having its interior in communication with the interior of the chamber, said drawer having a screened opening spaced from the chamof the vapor passing through the drawer will be' condensed and will moisten the lint collected in the drawer.

Lao M. o'NnrLL.

own pressure through said 

